Expertise in Sports Medicine Among Family Physicians: What are the Benefits?

Objectives: To obtain a better understanding of the benefits of expertise in sports medicine among family physicians in non-acute sports related leg injuries. Methods: Observational study based on information on patient characteristics, physicians care and recovery gathered with questionnaires from physicians and patients during the first consultation and from patients at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after inclusion. Results: No differences in treatment effects were found between patients of family physicians with no, some or much interest in sports medicine and attended relevant postgraduate courses with regard to sport discontinuation, perceived benefit of consultation and satisfaction about the recovery of the sports injury and the physicians approach of care. Respondents experienced a gradual decline in sport discontinuation throughout the year following inclusion. Likewise, mean satisfaction rates diminished for the physicians approach of care in all patients, but the appreciation remained high throughout. Conclusion: The results of this study show no added benefit of expertise in sports medicine among family physicians for the recovery of non-acute sports related injuries to the lower extremity.